Criminal Justice and Corrections at Butler Technology and Career Development Schools

Butler Technology delivers what anxious parents most want to see in a career certificate: solid earnings with minimal debt risk. Graduates earn $53,759 within their first year while carrying just $8,022 in debt—that's a 0.15 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they could theoretically pay off their loans in less than two months. This program costs roughly $5,000 less than the typical Ohio criminal justice certificate, while still producing earnings well above both the state median ($45,852) and national median ($48,388).

The program ranks squarely in the middle of Ohio's offerings—60th percentile statewide—so there are definitely higher-earning options like Owens Community College or Great Oaks if your student can access them. However, Butler's combination of above-average earnings and exceptionally low debt creates minimal downside risk. Only 5% of criminal justice certificate programs nationally manage to keep debt this low, which matters significantly for a field where earnings don't typically skyrocket over time.

For families in the Monroe area seeking an affordable entry point into law enforcement or corrections work, this represents a practical choice. The economics work in your favor from day one, and the moderate sample size suggests the program has enough track record to trust these outcomes.